The Sad State of Politics in Canada

Between the especially base political ineptitude of Paul Martin, the nasty and negative campaigning, and the air of corruption that emanates from the Liberal Party & and the radical neoconservatism, intemperance of Alberta candidates, and the horror of Stockwell Day emerging as a Senior Cabinet Minister - resides the poor Canadian voter.

Canadian political life is now dominated by special interests and ideologues of all stripes. The people have lost so much faith in the process, that the actual "best & brightest" shy-away from public service. As someone who was heavily involved with the PC Party for many years, I can confirm that party nominations in the various constituencies are entirely manipulated and controlled by money, money, money. I am not going to give real-life examples, but suffice it to say: I have personally witnessed it on many occasions.

Ideas and character do not matter. If you are a candidate, you merely spend what you need in order to sign-up enough people to party memberships to ensure that there will be enough "members" - to vote you in as the local Federal or Provincial candidate. The "members" typically disappear off the membership roll soon after the nomination election. You see, at that point there is nobody to pay their Membership Fee - until the next pre-election nomination contest, that is ...

This pattern of behaviour is replicated in all of the major party riding associations. It is a poorly-kept secret. When a local association really messes-up, the Party Leader usually steps-in and appoints his/her personal candidate. This is the only, and very poor, check on the nomination of defective candidates. It is used only sparingly, and is controversial - as we have all seen.

But there needs to be a check, I think. We may be nearing the day when it makes sense for Elections Canada to manage Riding Associations in the public interest. I read an Ed-Op in the National Post the other day that advocated this course of action, and I must say: I agree.